Detecting presence of an object in the vicinity of a touch interface of a device

Abstract

A system includes a controller situated on a circuit board and a touch sensor coupled to the controller. The touch sensor includes a plurality of electrodes configured to capacitively coupled to a surface. The system also includes a drive element that is coupled to the controller. The controller is configured to send a drive signal to the drive element and, after sending the drive signal to the drive element, receive a set of sense signals from the touch sensor. The controller is further configured to determine whether an object that is not contact with the surface is in a vicinity of the surface the set of sense signals.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A system, comprising:
 a touch sensor, the touch sensor comprising a plurality of electrodes arranged adjacent to a surface, the touch sensor arranged in a first region, the first region consisting of a first area that includes the touch sensor and a second area between the touch sensor and a circuit board; 
 a drive element situated external to the first area and the second area; 
 a controller disposed on the circuit board and coupled to the touch sensor using a first set of conductors and to the drive element using a second set of conductors, the controller being configured to:
 send a drive signal to the drive element using the second set of conductors; 
 after sending the drive signal to the drive element, receive a set of sense signals from the touch sensor; and 
 using the set of sense signals, determine whether an object that is not in contact with the surface is in a vicinity of the surface. 
 
 
     
     
       2. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to determine a distance between the object and the surface using the set of sense signals. 
     
     
       3. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to detect a direction of movement of the object while the object is in the vicinity of the surface. 
     
     
       4. The system of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the surface is a touch screen; 
 the drive element comprises metallic foil; and 
 the second area spans along an entire edge of the touch sensor. 
 
     
     
       5. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to determine a position associated with the object while the object is in the vicinity of the surface. 
     
     
       6. The system of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the plurality of electrodes are arranged along at least one axis; and 
 the drive element situated external to the first region comprises a substantial portion of the drive element situated external to the first region and another portion of the drive element situated in the first region. 
 
     
     
       7. The system of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the first region is adjacent to a first side of the circuit board; 
 the drive element is situated in a second region adjacent to a second side of the circuit board, the first side of the circuit board being different than the second side of the circuit board; and 
 the circuit board is situated between the touch sensor and the drive element. 
 
     
     
       8. A method, comprising:
 sending, using a controller, a drive signal to a drive element using a second set of conductors, the controller disposed on a circuit board and coupled to a touch sensor using a first set of tracks and to the drive element using the second set of tracks; 
 after sending the drive signal to the drive element, receiving, at the controller, a set of sense signals from the touch sensor, the touch sensor comprising a plurality of electrodes arranged adjacent to a surface, the touch sensor arranged in a first region, the first region consisting of a first area that includes the touch sensor and a second area between the touch sensor and the circuit board, the drive element situated external to the first-region first area and the second area; and 
 determining, using the controller, whether an object that is not in contact with the surface is in a vicinity of the surface using the set of sense signals. 
 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 8 , further comprising determining, using the controller, a distance between the object and the surface using the set of sense signals. 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 8 , further comprising detecting, using the controller, a direction of movement of the object while the object is in the vicinity of the surface. 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 8 , further comprising determining, using the controller, a position associated with the object while the object is in the vicinity of the surface. 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 8 , wherein:
 the plurality of electrodes are arranged along at least one axis; 
 the second area spans along an entire edge of the touch sensor; and 
 the drive element situated external to the first region comprises a substantial portion of the drive element situated external to the first region and another portion of the drive element situated in the first region. 
 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 8 , wherein:
 the first region is adjacent to a first side of the circuit board; 
 the drive element is situated in a second region adjacent to a second side of the circuit board, the first side of the circuit board being different than the second side of the circuit board; and 
 the circuit board is situated between the touch sensor and the drive element. 
 
     
     
       14. One or more computer-readable, non-transitory storage media embodying logic that is configured, when executed, to:
 send, using a controller, a drive signal to a drive element using a second set of conductors, the controller disposed on a circuit board and coupled to a touch sensor using a first set of conductors and to the drive element using the second set of conductors; 
 after sending the drive signal to the drive element, receive a set of sense signals from the touch sensor, the touch sensor comprising a plurality of electrodes arranged adjacent to a surface, the touch sensor arranged in a first region, the first region consisting of a first area that includes the touch sensor and a second area between the touch sensor and the circuit board, the drive element situated external to the first area and the second area; and 
 determine, using the controller, whether an object that is not in contact with the surface is in a vicinity of the surface using the set of sense signals. 
 
     
     
       15. The media of  claim 14 , wherein the logic is further configured to determine a distance between the object and the surface using the set of sense signals. 
     
     
       16. The media of  claim 14 , wherein the logic is further configured to detect a direction of movement of the object while the object is in the vicinity of the surface. 
     
     
       17. The media of  claim 14 , wherein:
 the surface is a touch screen; 
 the drive element comprises metallic foil; and 
 the second area spans along an entire edge of the touch sensor. 
 
     
     
       18. The media of  claim 14 , wherein the logic is further configured to determine a position associated with the object while the object is in the vicinity of the surface. 
     
     
       19. The media of  claim 14 , wherein:
 the plurality of electrodes are arranged along at least one axis; and 
 the drive element situated external to the first region comprises a substantial portion of the drive element situated external to the first region and another portion of the drive element situated in the first region. 
 
     
     
       20. The media of  claim 14 , wherein:
 the first region is adjacent to a first side of the circuit board; 
 the drive element is situated in a second region adjacent to a second side of the circuit board, the first side of the circuit board being different than the second side of the circuit board; and 
 the circuit board is situated between the touch sensor and the drive element.